2021: Think Positively for a Better Year!
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Helene, I’m glad you had a good visit with your sisters. Good luck and safe travels on your trip home.
Not much going on here his week. We are having intermittent rain and it’s forecasted to go on all week. Today it is sunny and warm, but the weatherman says it won’t last.
Next week I am going shopping with a couple of friends. One is looking for a Mother of the Groom dress for her son’s September wedding and she wants second and third opinions. She visited a store yesterday and found some possible choices so we will go next week with her and give our opinions. She is very busty on top and tiny on the bottom half, so finding something flattering is challenging. The bride has chosen colors in several shades of green and pinks, so she is also struggling to decide on a color that complements those colors but won’t look like she’s a bridesmaid. She loves green and looks good in it, but since that’s one of the wedding colors it makes it hard to find a shade that won’t compete. We are up for the challenge, but I know she’s growing frustrated and anxious about it.
That does sound like a challenge but hopefully everyone in the wedding will just be glad they can all be there and not be judgmental.0 -
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Being vaccinated makes a big difference. When we leave my brother’s house, we’ll get a hotel in VA. We drive to NJ the next day and visit BIL for a couple of days. We hope to see his kids and grandkids while we’re in NJ. We drive from NJ to the Cape in a day. That’s about an 8 hour drive.0
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Being vaccinated makes a big difference. When we leave my brother’s house, we’ll get a hotel in VA. We drive to NJ the next day and visit BIL for a couple of days. We hope to see his kids and grandkids while we’re in NJ. We drive from NJ to the Cape in a day. That’s about an 8 hour drive.
At least the driving is in several "chunks" and, of course, YOU'RE VACCINATED!!!0 -
From the Baltimore Sun:
The 1918 pandemic cut down young persons in the 20 to 44 age group with alarming speed. In 2021, it was seniors who were most susceptible, though health officials say younger people are currently fueling transmission of COVID-19.
Baltimore’s 1918 restrictions, imposed to stop the spread of the virus, did not last long — only several weeks. By Oct. 27, 1918, City Health Commissioner John D. Blake reopened churches for all services, excepting funerals. By Nov. 1, he reopened schools and eased nearly all other restrictions because the infection rate had dropped off.
By comparison, more than 8,700 died in all of Maryland since the coronavirus was first detected in March 2020. Just this week, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said the city would continue its masking restrictions until more of the city’s residents were vaccinated — continuing over a year of mandates and regulations designed to stop the spread.
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The pandemic’s end (there would be more deaths reported as the flu did not go away entirely) coincided with the end of World War I. On Nov. 11, what was then called Armistice Day, thousands gathered downtown. Revelers did not worry about crowded streetcars. Transit service had only recently been substantially restored by United Railway and Electric Co. after employees had been incapacitated by illness.0 -
That’s so strange that churches were open but not funerals. I’m sure that decision to reopen increased the number of funerals.0
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From the Times:
This is not a joke. This is not a myth. This is not a drill. According to a survey last year, a majority of Republicans agreed with the statement: “The traditional American way of life is disappearing so fast that we may have to use force to save it.”0 -
I can't believe TWO of my siblings now live in Arizona where all the election wackos are still making news.
I'm going to try to have a routine day today - go to the dentist to get my crown, stop by the vet to pick up a couple things, and swing by the grocery store. Some days I feel bad ignoring all the craziness out there but there's so little I can do about ANY of it.
Hopefully today's dental visit won 't be as wacky as the last one. I ended up under nitrous for almost two hours. A whole LOT of bizarre thoughts went through my brain during that period. LOL!
I think I'm going to try eating packets for the next couple weeks and see if I can propel myself forward.0 -
From the Times:
This is not a joke. This is not a myth. This is not a drill. According to a survey last year, a majority of Republicans agreed with the statement: “The traditional American way of life is disappearing so fast that we may have to use force to save it.”
Wow, those people are crazy! Speaking of Republicans, a number of Republican states are claiming they are out of unemployment money. So they are refusing to pay people the $300 federal benefit in the recent Covid package. They claim there are plenty of jobs waiting to be filled. So they are forcing people who need the money back to work. Many who are still at home don’t have childcare or have health conditions making it difficult to return to work. I hope all those people remember this and help vote those people out next election.0 -
From the Times:
This is not a joke. This is not a myth. This is not a drill. According to a survey last year, a majority of Republicans agreed with the statement: “The traditional American way of life is disappearing so fast that we may have to use force to save it.”
Wow, those people are crazy! Speaking of Republicans, a number of Republican states are claiming they are out of unemployment money. So they are refusing to pay people the $300 federal benefit in the recent Covid package. They claim there are plenty of jobs waiting to be filled. So they are forcing people who need the money back to work. Many who are still at home don’t have childcare or have health conditions making it difficult to return to work. I hope all those people remember this and help vote those people out next election.
Crazy is the word! DH's not politically correct comment is along the lines of "why are we trying so hard to get them vaccinated?" LOL!
I actually had an acquaintance yesterday spout off that spiel about $300 a week inducing people not to work. I'd say if true that's a sad sad commentary on wages. But I agree there are a lot of other issues including childcare (we have one young associate who still hasn't been able to come back to work because of her kids). And I strongly suspect that many of the job openings don't exactly line up skill-wise with folks to whom $300/week is enough money to stay home.0 -
Keep in mind that the $300 a week that is mentioned is in addition to whatever state unemployment payment an individual qualifies for, so in some cases it may be as much or more than a minimum wage job would pay after taxes. In my paper today there were 2 articles that referenced this. One was about how restaurants are struggling now to hire enough staff to keep up with demand now that so many people are feeling more comfortable about eating out again. The other addressed how many people who were formerly working in the food services industry used the pandemic as a time to reset and learn new skills so they could transition to jobs that paid better, offered better hours, and offered benefits, which most of their former jobs did not offer. The first article said many restaurant owners are being forced to raise wages and some are even offering sign on bonuses. Our governor has announced that the additional $300 will no longer be paid starting sometime next month. It will be interesting to see if it alleviates any of the hiring problems the restaurants are experiencing now.0
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I wondered if it would make a difference. Better pay and sick leave might attract more restaurant staff to go back to work. Not having any sick leave encourages sick employees to go to work. I’m sure that helped spread Covid around. Employees came in sick rather than lose a days pay. Those governors have probably forgotten about that.0
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IMHO it's long past time for the balance of power between employers and employees to shift a little back toward employees. I couldn't believe Amazon employees were brainwashed into voting against a union. I've read about the horrific working conditions those employees endure (makes me sort of ashamed to still be ordering from amazon) and even had a family member work there briefly and describe the same sorts of things.0
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I’ve been a union member in a couple of my jobs. So I’m definitely pro labor. I was surprised to see workers vote the Amazon union down.0
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The temperature here is to get well up into the 90's today and the cicadas are starting to be everywhere!0
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My sister died suddenly this morning from an aortic aneurysm. Two years younger than me, six years younger than when my mom died of a sudden heart attack. I have been seeing a cardiologist since shortly after mom died and tried a MILLION times to get my sister to start seeing someone. I'm in shock. She just turned 69 last week. Tomorrow was my mom's birthday.0
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Maryanne, I’m so sorry for your loss! What a shock this must be. Is she in Arizona?0
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If there's an after-life she's with Stuart (her only child who only lived a few hours) and our mom and probably still not speaking to our dad.0
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Maryanne, what very sad news. The suddenness of it all must make it even harder. I’ve mentioned that my sister is battling cancer. She’s holding her own for now but it will ultimately be terminal. At least we have time to prepare ourselves. I’ve seen her several times this spring and we’re stopping overnight at her house. She on our route home. It’s pretty frustrating when family urges and they won’t listen. My sister’s husband falls into that category. Know that you did everything in your power to ask her to see a cardiologist but the choice was ultimately hers. Her death was probably quick. Hopefully, she felt no pain. My thoughts and prayers are with you.0
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Maryanne, what very sad news. The suddenness of it all must make it even harder. I’ve mentioned that my sister is battling cancer. She’s holding her own for now but it will ultimately be terminal. At least we have time to prepare ourselves. I’ve seen her several times this spring and we’re stopping overnight at her house. She on our route home. It’s pretty frustrating when family urges and they won’t listen. My sister’s husband falls into that category. Know that you did everything in your power to ask her to see a cardiologist but the choice was ultimately hers. Her death was probably quick. Hopefully, she felt no pain. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thanks! I'm a little scattered today.0 -
I worked with a pet grief counselor once who told me something that stuck with me because it makes sense to me. If a pet (or person I'd think) is ill for a long time by the time they die much of the grieving has been done over time as opposed to when a pet dies suddenly, the grief hits all at once. I think she was trying to tell me not to feel badly if my grief was different in the two situations.
But in a lot of very real ways I lost her when she moved to Arizona. She responded to emails erratically, talked only occasionally, and only came back east once (at least to family). She was bipolar but to be honest I only ever saw the depression side. I missed the adventures we had when she was in southern New Jersey.0 -
DH is bringing in jars of cicadas to get the cats riled up. Such fun. NOT!0
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I just got home from a fun shopping trip with 2 of my friends. One is shopping for a mother of the groom dress for her son’s wedding Labor Day weekend in Chicago. She had been to several stores and wasn’t happy with any of their dresses, so last week she went to 1 that I had suggested and found 4 that she was considering, but wanted second opinions on. We promised to be completely honest with her about what we liked or didn’t like about them and we were. In the end, we eliminated all but 1 of them and our top choice turned out to be 1 that I had spotted in the racks we passed through on our way to the dressing rooms. I took several pictures of the top 3 choices and she will send those to her daughter and soon to be DIL to get their opinions before making a final decision, but I think she was sold on the one I chose. It really looked great on her. She is very busty on top and small through the waist and hips, but with a tummy, so finding the right silhouette was difficult.
Afterward we went to a restaurant in the same shopping center that has been featured on several national TV shows and had lunch, then walked across the parking lot to a store that specializes in spices that I had heard about. We browsed there for awhile and saw spices I’ve never heard of and we each bought a few things. We also put together a cute little gift basket for a friend who just moved into a new home that was inspired by a spice we saw there. Her name is Rosemary and when we saw a packet of spices named Cracked Rosemary, it was just too perfect.0 -
Pam, what a delightful day you had. Sounds like old times. I hope future DIL likes the number one choice. We arrived in Jacksonville about an hour ago. First whole day of driving behind us. Tomorrow we drive to S.C., near Myrtle Beach. My brother and sister live in towns that border MB. I haven’t seen my brother in a year. I saw my sister last week when she flew down to visit our sister last week. We’ll stay with my brother until after Memorial Day. I don’t want to be on the road in holiday traffic. The beauty of retirement is being flexible about travel. Maryanne, have you heard anything from your brother since your sister died? Does he get along with BIL since they’re living together without your sister?0
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My friend’s daughter and future DIL both liked the one we had all thought was the best, so it was a unanimous choice. My friend placed the order right away, so now she will have to wait for it to arrive. Unfortunately, that won’t be until the end of July or first part of August, which doesn’t leave much time for tailoring. We advised her to line up the tailor she wants to use and set up an appointment for about the time the dress is due to arrive so she will be ready to start as soon as she has the dress in hand. The sales consultant gave her a list of good tailors they have worked with, so hopefully she can get that set up. Now she needs to find shoes and jewelry and I think she will be all set.0
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Wishing you safe travels, Helene. As you said, the beauty of retirement is being able to schedule your trips to avoid rush hour and holiday traffic.0
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Pam, what a delightful day you had. Sounds like old times. I hope future DIL likes the number one choice. We arrived in Jacksonville about an hour ago. First whole day of driving behind us. Tomorrow we drive to S.C., near Myrtle Beach. My brother and sister live in towns that border MB. I haven’t seen my brother in a year. I saw my sister last week when she flew down to visit our sister last week. We’ll stay with my brother until after Memorial Day. I don’t want to be on the road in holiday traffic. The beauty of retirement is being flexible about travel. Maryanne, have you heard anything from your brother since your sister died? Does he get along with BIL since they’re living together without your sister?
Enjoy your holiday weekend!
I emailed both my brothers. Got a brief reply from the one in Arizona. If BIL keeps the house I think he'll honor my sister's wishes that brother live there. And they'll be good company for each other I would think. They're only 2 or 3 years apart in age. But yes, it's the first thing that popped into my mind after the initial shock wore off. `A new possible worry.0 -
Quick takes from the Post:
One vaccinated person in Ohio will receive $1 million tonight when the state reveals the first winner from its immunization lottery. Nearly 2.8 million Ohioans have registered for the “Vax-a-Million” program, which in total will give $1 million prizes to five adults and full-ride scholarships to Ohio public colleges to five teens. Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said the lottery contributed to higher vaccination rates, particularly among young adults, in the state.
YouTubers and other influencers in Europe say they have received offers of money to disparage the Pfizer vaccine to their online audiences. French officials are investigating a possible link between Russia and the attempts to harm perceptions of the Pfizer vaccine. That is the most frequently used vaccine in France, whose population may be vulnerable to such disinformation campaigns – anti-vaccine videos have racked up millions of views on French social media over the previous year.
The majority of Navajo Nation, the largest Native American tribe in the United States, is immunized – about 70 percent are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to the tribe's president. And leaders of other American Indian tribes say their vaccination numbers are similarly impressive. Reasons for this success, those leaders explain, include their sovereignty to distribute vaccines and cultural values that emphasize community.0 -
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